Secret Santa Visits Walmart in Tennessee to Pay Off Layaway to Give Families a Christmas Miracle
December 17, 2022
An anonymous Secret Santa walked into a Walmart in Tennessee and shelled out nearly $65,000 to pay off layaway balances belonging to complete strangers. And positive news stories like these are great reminders that there is still so much goodness in the world!
Several families in Tennessee received an unexpected blessing after a generous stranger showed up at Walmart to pay off layaway items in an act of goodwill.
RELATED: Secret Santa Pays For 62 Layaway Orders
Lloyd Leonard was one of the people who received a notification telling him his balance had been paid off. Worried it might be some kind of mistake, he called the store and spoke to a manager to confirm.
“She said yeah somebody came in this morning at 6 o’clock and paid everybody’s layaway,” Leonard said. “But he wants me to tell you that he loves you, God bless you, and Merry Christmas.”
Many families find themselves particularly strapped at Christmas as they buy gifts for everyone on their list. So, the timing of this blessing really touched the hearts of those who received it.
RELATED: Police Officers Join Secret Santa In Helping The Community
"The emotional type that I am, I just broke. I just started crying," April Hilliard said of hearing her layaway bill had been paid off. "That restores my faith. It's like a Christmas miracle."
Secret Santa To Pay Off Layaway And Spread Joy
It's not just the recipients who get joy from this blessing. The Walmart employees spreading the good news about the paid off layaway items get to share in the joy, too.
"It's especially touching when customers pay off others' layaways during the holiday season and serves as another example of the generosity our customers show year-round," said the Walmart store manager Kris Light. "We're honored to play a small role in these acts of kindness and we love seeing the joy it brings to our customers this time of year."
This incredible blessing is exactly what Christmas is all about. God gave us the gift of His Son, who came to pay the debt with His life.
The freedom and relief felt in paying off layaway or any other worldly debt is amazing. But it pales in comparison to the freedom that comes through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. No matter what struggles you face this Christmas, remember that Jesus has already overcome it!
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: 7 Short Inspirational Christmas Stories To Center Your Heart On The Real Reason For The Season
"These things I have spoken to you, that in me you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." John 16:33
WATCH: Secret Santa Visits Walmart To Pay Off Layaway For Strangers
LISTEN: The Legend of The Christmas Spider and Story Behind Tree Tinsel
h/t: People
Featured Image: Youtube/WJHL News
Mel is the senior writer for GodUpdates, finding, writing and sharing Christian, uplifting, and health-related stories from around the world. Mel has a passion for writing and graduated with a degree in English from Randolph-Macon College in Virginia. When she’s not researching and writing stories, Mel is very active in her church. You can usually find Mel playing board games with her husband and two young girls, giving someone a hug, or hunting down a good cup of coffee!
Today's Devotional
A Prayer to Deepen and Strengthen Your Faith - Your Daily Prayer - October 25
What does it take to deepen and strengthen our faith? 2 Timothy 4:7 likens our faith to running a race: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
Today's Devotional
A Prayer to Deepen and Strengthen Your Faith - Your Daily Prayer - October 25
What does it take to deepen and strengthen our faith? 2 Timothy 4:7 likens our faith to running a race: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
Past Stories
- An Iguana Hitches a Ride on a Garbage Truck in Tennessee, Now Trying to Find Its Owner
- 6-Year-Old Starts 'Poop Scooping' Business to Help Animals and Adopt One of His Own
- Bride's dad Drops During Father-Daughter Dance, but Things Lined up Perfectly to Save His Life
- Young North Carolina Father Risked His Life To Save a Couple and Dog From a Sinking Truck
- UPS Driver Jumps into Action As He Spots Elderly Woman on the Ground & Says It Was All God
- Rescuer Braces for the Worst After Spotting Kitten on the Side of the Road, Then Sees a Paw Move
- AJ Griffin Gives Up High-Paying Career with NBA to Follow God
- These Former Conjoined Twins Finally Go Home After Their First Birthday
- Teenager From Iowa Uses His Flying Skills to Help Hurricane Helene Victims
- Son Saves For 9 Months and Surprises Mom By Paying Off Her Mortgage
- Woman's Home is Surrounded By 100 Raccoons, and They Aren't Leaving Anytime Soon
- Dog Saves Her Owner's Life By Sitting in the Middle of the Road
- Widower Shares the Last Thing His Wife Told Their Son Before She Passed Away From Cancer
- A Nurse Saved Her Life 35 Years Ago, Now, She is Surprising Her With a Visit
- These Twin Sisters Have An Important Message To Share On Their 102nd Birthday
- This Brave 5-Year-Old Saved Her Mother's Life By Calling 911
- 79-Year-Old Broke Her Ankle After Scattering Her Mom's Ashes, Then Strangers Save the Day
- Dad Travels Through Mud and Debris to Walk His Daughter Down the Aisle
- Owner's Trip to the Vet with Unwell Dog Results in the Craziest X-Ray
- After Getting Lost in Yellowstone, This Precious Cat Made His Way Back Home To California
- Mom's Funny Response To Daughter's Dirty Sock On The Floor Goes Viral & Ends Up Doing Good
- A Kidnapped Boy Is Found After 70 Years and Reunited With His Family
- This Puppy Was Found With a Note That Read 'Help Me,' Now He's Looking For a New Home
- Excited Mom Couldn't Wait to See Son's Back to School Pictures, but Funny Results Make Her LOL
- When This Police Officer Pulled Her Over, He Changed Her Life Forever
- She Just Met Her Vietnam Veteran Father After 50 Years, Now He is Walking Her Down the Aisle
- Fearless Father Waits on Porch to Catch the Stranger Peeking in His Daughter's Window
- This 5th Grade Teacher Eats Lunch In the Cafeteria Every Day
- Amy Grant Has a New Perspective After Losing Her 'Superpower' in Bike Accident
- 'God Did It' Says 18-Year-Old After Waking Up From a Coma Following a Crash
- These Four Sisters Share a Birthday, Which is Quite the Miracle
- Dad Harmony Sings a Beautiful A Cappella Rendition of ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love'
- Couple's Outstanding Boogie Woogie Dance Performance
- Siblings’ Cover of Dolly Parton’s Classic ‘I Will Always Love You’ Is Incredible
- Pastor and Wife Were Killed in a Car Accident, But Their Kids Have a Message of Hope
- Outstanding 'Amazing Grace' Cover Music Video by Celtic Woman
- Carrie Underwood Helps With Leading Worship at Tennessee Church
- 8-Year-Old Kid's To-Do List Goes Viral As a Wholesome Reminder for Us All
- 'Holy Forever' Lyric Video by Chris Tomlin and CAIN
- Elementary Teacher Talks About the Power of Words and Kindness By Using Toothpaste
- Prayers Pour in for Loretta Lynn's Family After the Death of the Late Singer's First Grandchild
- Dennis Quaid Singing 'On My Way To Heaven" is an Inspiring Performance
- Charming Elderly Couple Share Sweet Dance to 'Have You Ever Seen The Rain?"
- Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick Adorably Sing a Sassy Duet to Celebrate 36 Years of Marriage
- Rory Feek Performs Beautiful Tune 'I Do' After Finding Love Again
- Driver Shows Up to Deliver Pizza to Elderly Man's House, Then Comes Back with His Lawnmower
- What Parents & Grandparents Don't Know About 'Easy' Recipe Trend Could Be Dangerous
- Nearly 1,500 Students Gather to Worship Jesus at Texas A&M Revival
- 96-Year-Old Shares the Secret to a Happy Life and His Words of Wisdom Are Truly Inspiring
- In God's Divine Timing, Wedding Ring Is Returned to Man's Widow After It's Lost for 60+ Years
Top Music Videos
CCM Magazine Steven Curtis Chapman Shares the Heartfelt Message that Helped While Grieving His Daughter
Crowder Crowder Moving Official 'Somebody Prayed' Music Video
The Statler Brothers 'Til the Storm Passes By' The Statler Brothers Live Performance
Mandisa Mandisa - Shackles (Praise You)
Anne Wilson Anne Wilson 'The Cross' Powerful Lyric Video
Blogs
At GodTube, you’ll find daily inspirational videos to lift your spirits and encourage you in your walk with God. Popular videos include worship music from your favorite Christian artists, cute videos with adorable kids and animals, hilarious videos from Christian comedians, user-uploaded videos, and clean viral videos to brighten your day.